PM breaks tradition to turn No 10 into a dragon’s den

Prime Minister David Cameron is to break with tradition and fly the Welsh flag outside his official London residence to mark the occasion of Wales reaching the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup.

Wales face France at Eden Park in Auckland tomorrow, for the right to play either New Zealand or Australia in the final next week. “We would only usually fly a home nation flag for a final,” Cameron said, “but I know how important a competition this is and we all want to get behind Wales, so I’ve decided to break with tradition on this occasion and fly the flag for Wales in Downing Street on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, more than 45,000 free tickets into Millennium Stadium have been claimed by Wales fans to watch live coverage of the early morning semi-final. The Welsh Rugby Union gave tickets away this week in batches of 25,000 on the lower stands and 20,000 in the middle levels, and all of them were snapped up within hours.

The WRU is considering releasing more tickets. The stadium seats 74,500 and has giant screens at each end. It’s all part of an event the WRU is calling “Wake Up for Wales.”

The stadium will open at 7.30am tomorrow, with live music acts to keep the crowd buzzing before the game starts at 9am. Wales’ first World Cup semi-final in 24 years has caused a giddy frenzy in the principality.

Family members of hooker Huw Bennett will be in the crowd, including his parents, fiancee and three children.

Bennett said his father, Stephen, was receiving so much attention that he was taking twice as long to do his daily postman’s round in Ebbw Vale.

“Everywhere I go, especially when I am out delivering mail, I am being stopped by people wishing the team well, especially Huw, and telling me how they will all be glued to the TV on Saturday morning,” said Stephen Bennett. “I am quietly confident.”

The WRU has also encouraged all of Wales to wear something red to work today to support the team.